NOVEL NEXT Chapter 65: Written Exam
Kael grinned upon seeing that Gabby could use aura.
He remarked, "You should have use your aura earlier."
Gabby thought to himself:
"So this is all because of Clara. How predictable."
Another man driven by pride, hormones and testosterone, trying to prove his worth through brute strength. As if swinging a weapon harder somehow makes him more deserving of her attention and validation.
It's laughable. Primitive, even like a Valkyries.
People like him think emotions justify his love. Turning an official duel into a personal vendetta, how childish.
If someone like him becomes a hero, then the world truly is broken
I had to use force to crush his pride."
And so, Gabby began wobbling.
His sword hung loosely in one hand, the blade barely catching the light. His posture shifted, strange and off-balance, almost careless. One foot slid forward, the other trailed behind. His knees bent slightly, but his body swayed like he might collapse at any moment.
He continued, "Even if that force is shameful and ugly."
The crowd was confused by his action. He looks like he lost all of his strength with the hit he received from Kael but this must continue fighting.
Kael seized the opportunity and charge forward.
He remarked, "You're wide open."
Gabby stumbled sideways, nearly tripping over his own foot. His sword dangled from his hand like he'd forgotten it was there. His body swayed, twisted, and leaned at impossible angles, as if he were moments away from collapsing.
Kael's axe missed by inches.
Again.
And again.
Gabby spun lazily, ducked under a wide arc, then fell backward, only to roll with the momentum and pop back up behind Kael.
The crowd gasped.
Kael growled, "Stop dancing and fight me!"
Gabby didn't answer. Instead, he scooped up a handful of sand from the arena floor and, mid-stumble, flung it straight into Kael's eyes.
He had managed to shield his eyes with one hand, brushing away most of the sand. But in doing so, he created a blind spot, and Gabby saw it instantly.
Without hesitation, Gabby lunged forward, his wobbling stance vanishing for just a moment.
His fist, coated in green aura, slammed into Kael's gut and it landed clean.
THUD!
The impact echoed across the arena. Kael's body folded inward, his breath stolen in an instant. His grip on the great axe loosened as he staggered back, eyes wide in shock.
The green aura coating Gabby's fist had done its job, not just hurting Kael but shaking his confidence.
But the pain wasn't the worst part. It was the humiliation. He had been outclassed by a sword technique that looked like an entertaining circus. Yet it worked.
The crowd burst into laughter. Whether it was mockery on Kael or genuine amusement towards Gabby.
Kael wiped the sand from his eyes, still reeling from the gut punch. His aura flared again, as he gripped his great axe with both hands and charged forward.
Gabby stumbled to the side, barely avoiding the swing. His movements were strange—unpredictable steps and sudden feints. But they were all part of his plan.
At this point, he wasn't even looking at Kael.
Gabby thought to himself, "I've finally learned the rhythm of his attacks. All that running and dodging earlier was just to study his strength and speed."
Kael roared and charged again, his axe raised high.
Gabby quickly rolled on the ground, dodging the heavy strike.
He had planned this moment. He spotted a sharp piece of earth magic debris nearby—one of the broken spires from Watson's earlier spell.
Without wasting time, Gabby kicked the sharp stone straight at Kael.
It hit Kael in the groin.
Kael screamed in pain and dropped his axe. He bent forward, clutching himself.
Gabby didn't wait. He grabbed his sword and pointed it at Kael's neck.
Kael froze, breathing hard. The fight was over.
Professor Ava stepped forward and declared Gabby the winner.
Gabby walked past by Kael as he whispered, "You're lucky I wasn't allowed to use my sword forms. Know your place, rank seven."
The crowd erupted in cheers for Gabby, celebrating his clever victory. But not everyone was impressed. Whispers spread through the stands, some called his tactics cheap, others labeled him a trickster who relied on dirty moves rather than skill.
But Kael didn't hear the cheers. He didn't hear the whispers either. Anger and revenge took over him
He stood frozen, humiliated in front of thousands. His pride shattered, his reputation bruised.
"This isn't over," Kael thought, his fists clenched so tight his knuckles turned white. "I swear. I'll kill you, Gabby. Even if it's the last thing I do."
The fifth match had ended. The crowd slowly began to leave, still buzzing with excitement. The next round will continue tomorrow.
But for the Junior Elite Class, the battle wasn't over.
They had exactly one hour before their written exam with Professor Jordan.
Even Royce, who had been knocked unconscious during his match, suddenly sat up with wide eyes. Just the thought of failing Professor Jordan's exam was enough to jolt him awake.
Everyone knew the legend. Professor Jordan was feared across the academy. He held the highest failure rate in history. Some dropped out entirely.
After changing into their academy robes, the Junior Elite Class hurried toward Professor Jordan's classroom.
Among them was a girl with a cute, round face, short beige hair that curled slightly at the ends, and hazel eyes. Her figure was graceful and well-developed. She was Ellis Astor—the same girl Clara would face in tomorrow's match.
Ellis walked up to Gabby with a teasing smile.
"Congratulations on winning your match," she said. "Even though you cheated your way to victory."
Gabby replied calmly, "I'll do whatever it takes to win."
Ellis raised an eyebrow. "You seem surprisingly calm for someone who's never attended a single lecture from Professor Jordan."
Gabby shrugged. "I've accepted my fate. Panicking won't help with the situation."
She smirked. "That sounds exactly like something a top scholar would say—someone who's secretly going to ace the exam. Want to study together?"
Gabby shook his head. "I wouldn't be much help. I haven't studied at all. I'll just rely on what I already know."
Ellis laughed lightly and thought to herself, "That was a blunt rejection."
Despite his distant attitude, some of the girls believed Gabby was a genius. After all, no one could draw a chess game against Professor Odel by fluke. And his recent match with Kael only highlighted his sharp mind and tactical skill.
But Gabby's quiet nature made him hard to approach. He rarely spoke to anyone. Only Jin had ever managed to break through his walls.
But Ellis approaching Gabby proved something important. He could talk.
And so, they arrived at Professor Jordan's classroom.
Before entering, Gabby quickly drank a mana potion, emptying it in one gulp. He felt the energy rush through his body as mana began to circulate.
Today felt different.
Professor Jordan, known for his strict and intimidating presence, greeted the students, including Gabby with a warm smile.
Suddenly, he stopped and said, "Who are you? Why are you wearing glasses in my class?"
Gabby removed his glasses and replied, "Sorry, Professor. I'm Gabby Magus. I have sore eyes from a sparring match."
He lowered his glasses, revealing red spots in his eyes.
Professor Jordan didn't believe him and asked, "May I take a look at those glasses?"
Gabby handed them over. The professor inspected them carefully. Finding nothing unusual, he returned the glasses with a smile and said, "Good luck with the exam, Gabby."
His usual cold and serious face was gone, replaced by something almos friendly.
For once, the students felt a little more relaxed.
But that feeling didn't last long.
As soon as they saw the test papers, their hearts sank. The questions were far harder than they expected. Their hopes were crushed in an instant.
Yin Farrock rubbed his temple, clearly frustrated by the exam questions.
Professor Jordan said, "This test has 100 questions. The first 35 are worth 1 point each. Seven are worth 5 points, and three are worth 10 points. A score of 65 is needed to pass. If you're caught cheating, you will fail automatically."
He paused, then added, "You may begin."
Gabby looked at the test paper:
1. Provide a theoretical framework for elemental fusion and combination.
2. Explain the difference between quantum mechanics and quantum magic.
3. Analyze the moral risks of dark magic and necromancy.
He thought to himself, "This isn't basic magic at all, even the one point questions are difficult. It's like he covered the entire beginner's magic textbook. Some of these questions seem more like advanced applications. To answer this, you'd need the knowledge of a seventh-core magician."
Gabby activated his Phantom Sight, and his eyes glowed green behind his glasses.
He thought to himself. "Excellent. The pseudo-mana from the salves I made doesn't hurt my eyes. Looks like it works."
He used his enhanced vision to sneak a look at Aurora's paper, copying her answers from where she sat in front of him.